Kuroko no Basket: The Supreme Genius of The Court

Akira walked into the gymnasium. The atmosphere was electric, with players shooting hoops, stretching, and chatting amongst themselves. Akira spotted Kazuya practicing dribbling drills off to the side, his confidence already much higher than a week ago.

He's getting better every day. This is going to be interesting, Akira thought.

Coach Yamamoto entered the gym with a clipboard in hand, his expression serious but calm. He called the team together, and the chatter immediately died down as everyone gathered around him.

"Alright, listen up," Coach Yamamoto began, his voice firm but encouraging. "We have a lot to cover today, so I'm going to get straight to the point. The tournament is in just a few weeks, and we've got two friendly matches lined up before then. These matches are crucial. They'll help us gauge where we stand and what we need to work on."

The coach's eyes scanned the group, ensuring everyone was paying attention. "Now, as far as the starting lineup goes... I want to make one thing clear: your spot on the starting team depends only on your performance. I don't care about your age, your year, or how much experience you have. What I care about is how you perform on the court. If you want to be a starter, you'll have to earn it."

That's fair. No favoritism. Just skill and effort, Akira thought, nodding slightly.

There was a murmur of agreement among the players, some glancing at each other with newfound determination.

Coach Yamamoto continued, "That said, I expect every single one of you to give your all during these practices. We'll be working on conditioning, teamwork, and strategy. Our objective is clear as day, to win the championship. I was hired and I know the results of the last championship. Teiko is a very strong, well-trained, and big team. Several students enter every year looking for a place on the team. I wouldn't be surprised if new good players joined this year..."

Players like Murasakibara… Akira mused.

"Then! Get to work!"

Yamamoto started with simple drills—passing, shooting, and dribbling through cones. Kazuya stood out during the dribbling exercises, his improved skills drawing praise from the coach.

"Kazuya is already that good at dribbling? That must be Akira's doing..." Coach Yamamoto thought to himself, smiling slightly. He's stubborn, but he's a good stubborn person. He's willing to take the time to improve the players he thinks are talented.

On the other side of the court, Akira stood with his arms crossed, a confident smirk on his face.

I said I'd understood the coach. Now Kazuya should be in the team's top 5 dribblers. Soon he will be in the starting team.

Coach Yamamoto adjusted his cap. "Okay! Now let's switch things up a bit. We'll do 1v1 scenarios."

As the players readied themselves, the gym doors swung open, and the starting team walked in, about 30 minutes late.

"Coach! We're so sorry. Our teacher kept us late because of this asshole here," a boy with black bowl-cut hair apologized, pointing to a tall, strong guy beside him.

"Sorry, Coach!" the tall boy echoed, bowing.

"Alright! Just don't let it happen again. Introduce yourselves. These are the freshmen," Coach Yamamoto said, motioning to the new players.

The boy with the bowl cut stood tall. "Good afternoon! My name is Hiroshi, I'm the PG and Captain of the team."

"I'm Daichi," the tall boy who had been called an asshole said.

"And?" Hiroshi poked him with his elbow.

"Ouch! I'm the team's Power Forward."

"I'm Kaigo Suzuki. I'm the SG of the team, nice to meet you." The boy looked like he could fall asleep any second.

"Yooo! I'm Shinji Koganei! I'm the team's any position!" Shinji exclaimed, his feline-like expression adding to his lively demeanor.

"I'm Takeo, the team's SF." This boy had bangs that nearly covered his eyes.

"It's a pleasure to meet you!" the veterans said in unison.

The coach had a devilish look on his face as he planned the 1v1. He took one last pen and announced.

"Let the games begin!" He says with a devilish look.

The first match was between Kazuya and Hiroshi, a battle of point guards. Kazuya, with his improved dribbling, started strong, weaving through imaginary defenders with quick, sharp moves. His footwork was impressive, each step precise, but Hiroshi's defense was unyielding. Despite Kazuya's flashy dribbles, Hiroshi's defense was solid, his stance low and movements minimal yet efficient.

As Kazuya attempted a crossover, Hiroshi anticipated it, shifting his weight just enough to stay in front of him. Kazuya tried to drive to the basket, but Hiroshi cut him off, forcing him to retreat. Kazuya's frustration was evident, but he didn't back down, attacking again with renewed determination.

Coach Yamamoto watched intently. See Akira? Your apprentice knows how to dribble very well now, but you still haven't taught him how to translate that into a game situation. He scribbled notes on his clipboard. Not only that. Hiroshi is still the best player among the seniors.

Hiroshi's offense was methodical, his dribbles purposeful. He didn't waste any movement, each step taking him closer to the basket. When he finally made his move, it was quick and decisive—a clean crossover followed by a smooth layup. Kazuya couldn't keep up, and Hiroshi scored easily, sealing the match.

Kazuya returned to the group of players, a bit dejected but still holding his head high. Akira considered offering some encouragement but stopped when he saw Kazuya's expression. Instead of disappointment, there was a spark of excitement in his eyes.

Kazuya remains on my talent list. Let's see how the others do here.

"Next is... Kenta vs Daichi!"

The Power Forwards duel then... This is going to be interesting.